Thomas pbossee



Unirnn STATES raggiante orrrcn.

THOMAS PROSSER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOOL FOR ATTACI-IING TUBES TO BOILERS,

.Specication of Letters Patent No. 6,360, dated April 1'?, 1849.

To all who-L t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS Pnossnn, of the city, county, and State ot'New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Fastening the Tubesinto the Tube-Sheets ot' Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the'Fflllowing is a full and exact description.

. Figure 1, is an isometrica-l section through the center at one end ofa tube (a), showing that it is secured to the tube sheet (b) by means ofthe projections or swellings pro duced ori-the. external periphery ofthe tube (a.) on both sides of the tube sheet tb). Fig. 2 is a halfsection lof a tube, with a piece of the tube sheet ready for theoperation ot expanding the tube, so as to appear like Fig. 1, by meansof the segment (e) having rectangular projections at (d.) for thepurpose of keeping the segments at uniform distances 'troni each other(when expanded) by means of mort-isc holes out-into the mortise rings y)for that purpose, when the mandrel (h) is driven in among the segments..Fig. 3 is the same as F ig. 2 but after the operation ot expanding ordouble calkinghas been performed.

It is important to observe that the part of the segment-marked (e)although it is opposite'to the tube sheet where the real joint is made,does not touch'the tube, but

that the parts or projections marked f and f are alone available forthat purpose, by eX- citing the elasticity of the metal in alongitudinal direction, while at. the same time the tube is enlargeduntil the hole in the tube i sheetI is entirely tilled. but note, thatwhen the tool is removed there is no tendency in the tube to contract indiameter opposite the tube sheet (as isthe. case when a mere plug orcommon calking tool is used, wlneh has a tendency either merely to crushthe metal. or to loosen one pax-thy thc operation ot' fastening another)because the longitudinal lextension of the tube. tends to reduce it indiameter within the hole inthe tube sheet, while the expansion of thetube on both sides of the tube sheet has a contrary eii'ect; whentherefore. the toolis ren'ioved the elasticity of the metal causes thetube to enlarge somewhat within the lube sheet and the projection on thetube lo close upon it and thus a most perfect joint is produced, and thegreat. ditleultv heretofore existing with rei gard to the tilting iniron tubes is obviated and the objections no longer exist which vwerepointed out by Professor W. R. Johnson at the monthly meeting` of theFranklin Institute held 17th, 1847, as related in the 14 vol. of theJournal of the- Franklin Institute, page 112.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the tool through the line ae Fig. 3. y

Fig. 5 is an isometrical view of the tool but Without the inandrel.- Themandrel is 'simply a conical or pyramidical plug taper mg about 1 in 10which 1s driven in among v the segments.

In using the tool the following instrucf tions should he attended ',to.The holes in the tube sheets should notbe larger than isabsolutelynecessary to get the tubes in, and those holes through which the tubesare first to be passed should be` rather larger than the others. Thetubes should be driven in when necessary with a piece of hard woodagainst the ends or them, to receive the blows of the hammer. The tubesheet for a two inch tube is calculated to be threeeighths of an inchthick, and count rsunk on each side the thirty-second part of an inch,so as to make the cylindrical part of the hole two inches in diameterand fivesixteenths of an inch long; but if the ube sheet is more thanthree eighths of an inch long the countersink must be more also and inthe same proportion; for. one and-a-half and one and three-fourth inchtubes, the tube sheet should be five-sixteenths oan inch -thick. Thetube should project one tenth of an inch in front of 'the tube sheet,and a sledge hammer being held against one end, the tool should be usedat the other, care being taken that the segments are all free to actbefore striking the mandrel,.

center of each segment opposite to that part of the tube which the toolcould not reach in the previous operation. This should be repeated tiveor six times with care, both with regard to turning the tool roundcorrectly one sixteenth of a revolution after 4each loosening ottthe-mandril, and also driving` up the mandrel by degrees. to facilitatewhich the too-l should `be well payed and also the inside of the tubewith grease and plumbago.

In`s01ne cases there may not be space enough to admit ot a blow beinggivenI with sou Cil

through by similar means at the end to be expanded; in which case thehardenedfsteel washer, minst bear against the mortise guide ring: orstill another method may be em` ployed, to Wit; a erosshead with a screwthrough it learing against the mandrel, while another crosshead bearsagainst the other end of the tube; or that also may have a tool placedin it, and so expand both ends at one operation, either from one or bothents; in either case the two erossheads may be connected together bylong bolts passingr through the boiler or otherwise.

Having 4thus fully described the tool, and the method of using" it; ldeclare my invention to consist of an improvement in the tool or tools,and the method used for the purpose ot calling, fixing, or securing thetubes of steam boilers or other Vessels, to the tube sheets, byexpanding,Y their whole periphery simultaneously on both sides of thetube sheet at one and the saine operation, which has heretofore beendone by expanding a part only of the periphery at once, and that only onone side ot' the tube sheet.

Although it is desirable that the whole of the internal periphery oit'the tube should he supported as nearlyas is practicable at theconimcncement ot' the'opm-ation ot' expansion, it obvious that suchcannot be the case atter the expansion hastalten place,

and therefore, the tubois not supported absolute Contact with thesegments at that time, should any ditiiculty however arise from thiscircumstance it may be obviated by the use of expansion rings, of theform of the projections and in the place of those on the segments, inthe manner shown in Fig. 6 or in any other manner analogous thereto.

The rings which form the projections instead of those on thesegmeut, aremarked the saine as before described on Fig. 2, and need no other, beingsimply volutes similar to the rings used for keeping the keys of locks'together 'and overlapping on the pe riphery or otherwise.

`What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is'1. The combination of' the guide ring, havmg mortises therein, with thesegmental expanders, and conical or pyramidical mandrel; constructed andoperating substantially as herein described.

2. I claim as separate and component parts of the same, the doubleprojections on the segments, having a hollow between them to be placedopposite to the tube sheet While the tube is being expanded Within it.

3. I claim the guide ring, and the mortises in the sanie, together withthe projections on 'the segments to tit into them; I do not howeverronne 1in/self to any specific number ot Segments, form of projection onthe seg'.

ments to fit into the mortise guide ring,y er

position .of the mortise guide ring itself, which may be placed insiclethe tube it' required. 4 l

All in the manner, and for the purpose substantially, as hereinbeforefully described and set forth. v

Tiros. rnossnu. iVitnesses: y A y WILLIAM BnUN'roN, Trios.` Pnossnn, Jr.

